] In conclusion, it is important that developed countries ] and WIPO acknowledge that IP protection is an important ] policy instrument for developing countries, one that ] needs to be used carefully. While the claimed benefits of ] strong IP protection for developing countries are a ] matter of debate - and nearly always in the distant ] future - such protection invariably entails substatial ] real an immediate costs for these countries. In ] formulating its IP policy, therefore, each country needs ] to have sufficient flexibility so that the cost of IP ] protection does not outweigh the benefits. It is clearly ] in the interest of developing countries that WIPO ] recognizes this and formulates its work program ] accordingly - including its 'technical assistance' - and ] not limit its activities, as it currently does, to the ] blind promotion of increasingly higher levels of IP ] protection. This is where WIPO, as a specialized UN ] agency, can make a major impact - by truly incorporating ] the development dimension into its mission - in letter ] and in spirit, so that it is appropriately reflected in ] all its instruments. Certainly it will result in a ] revitalisation of WIPO as an organisation sensitive to ] integrating the development concerns of developing ] countries into all areas of its work. [ Very cogent words from India... I hope everyone's listening... -k] |